Feeling out of sorts tonight. We haven't tried marriage counseling in almost 6 months, because he isn't in recovery, doesn't think he has a problem and so the last time was a total waste of time. But we've recently started talking again about giving it another try. I've contacted a therapist who was recommended to me by someone at s-anon. He sounds really good. But this will be the fifth marriage counselor we've been to (well, in three years, maybe that's not so bad), and honestly I don't have that much hope for the outcome. It feels tiring to explain the story again...and a lot of blah blah blah... but if we don't try...how much longer do I go on in this limbo? The limbo of staying together with little trust gets just as tiring and old. We've had some very good months over the past year, but old fears and pain have recently resurfaced. I'm taking care of myself and have many tools to do that that I didn't have in the past....but man, it just feels like this is going to go on and on and on and discouragement sets in. thanks for listening...
Nice article Cyn: It really does get to the points doesn't it? I fear that my marriage is just going to fizzle out as time goes on, because I just don't want to forgive him...ever. I see no reason to. And I don't want to. So, if that were to ever happen, it will be only that God did it...because I don't want to. He can stay here...we can be married...whatever that means in this context...but I am not willing to forgive him...and I don't believe I ever will be. I did that more than once with him already...and I don't think he deserves it at all. And he told me that he just didn't care when he was doing that, and that he thought that if I found out, I'd be hurt, get angy, and then forgive him because I love him. In telling me that, he assured that I never can. That would be to betray myself. Wow...he really dug the grave for our marriage...or any quality of marriage anway...when he said that. The unsurmountable statement?
Em: Have you been able to forgive like that yet? I read about it...I've done it before...I know it's a good thing...I know that I should...and yet...thus far...I can't bring myself to "want" to. And, I know that I have to want to...to do anything. I know that refusing to do it is a bad thing on my part. And yet, I find myself refusing. Please pray for me that I can know when it is really time to do that. I know that I've done it before when it wasn't warranted. And now when it seems that it is, I haven't been able to do it again. What a mess!
Thank you so much for the address to the articles. I keep reading and talking and hoping that I can be as I once was
Yeah, I think I have been able to forgive like that... in fact I think I have several times...but for me right now it just isn't about forgiving... it is about being clear with myself, loving myself, staying out of the fog, being awake to my emotions and learning to love him in the ways that he NEEDS (not in the ways he wants)....
Can everyone here please hold me accountable to all that? I don't want to come back tomorrow night feeling like a caved in piece of mush. I need to feel the power of knowing I've done everything I possibly could with boldness to save myself and my marriage. I need to feel progress....
Em: I'm here if you need me. I've learned to be very aware of many things. I didn't want to have to learn them...but I did...and it's good. I'm with ya. You'll be ok.
I understand SheenRe. I am not near forgiveness either. I feel like I lose both ways. To not forgive I lose my marriage and to forgive I lose more of myself (morals and values).
just to give an update...h went with me to the appointment, and it went well...wow, it wasn't easy, but I feel hopeful. He couldn't find anything to complain about with this therapist...there really was nothing he could come up with as a reason not to go back. I'm feeling positive the fifth one might work out for us...a safe place where we can do some work and make progress...
Thank you so much for the address to the articles. I keep reading and talking and hoping that I can be as I once was
Can everyone here please hold me accountable to all that? I don't want to come back tomorrow night feeling like a caved in piece of mush. I need to feel the power of knowing I've done everything I possibly could with boldness to save myself and my marriage. I need to feel progress....